Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-05-18

She was deep IN the cuShlOns OF an easy
chair before the fire in the sitting room.
She was gazing thoughtfully into the
Goals. She heard the door bell ring and
the sound of a step in the hallway. She
did not stir, but blush crept slowly on
her cheek.
MIR. Jack came in exactly as if he had
been expected. He walked over to her
chair, leaned gently over its back. and
kissed her on the forehead. She blushed
more deeply, and made no protest. She
still gazed into the Goals.
"Bugs?' he asked eagerly.
mo, not bugs. "she said
"Would you kindly inform me what
larvae of thought are at present hibernat-
ing under the loose bark of your brain?"
81 am afraid it is very loose" she said
slowly and thoughtfully.
where is the professor?'
"He has gone down to the Post Office.
There is meeting tonight. He will not
be back till H.
He pulled chair up beside hers. He
took her warm dimpled hand in his and
held it tenderly as he talked with her.
Mimi" he said 1t was his nickname
for her.
w nat - IL, OdChs
II have a scheme"
You are always having schemes
But this is beauty. Listen. On
Thursday will not 60 to the city. being
unfortunately seized with malignant
whooping cough over night. will come
for you wherever you say at 10 O'Clock
precisely. The carpellary ovarium of my
Brewster buggy shall be filled with turkey
sandwiches chowchow pickles. and St.
Julien, or some ice in a bottle of Pom, if
YOU prefer We will drive down to
Laundry farm, see nobody but our two
selves, and spend an idyilic day in the
shadow of canon so beautiful that it will
make your hair curl. will read you
.'Lucile" till you are aweary. and the day
shall be as perfect as a dream"
She said nothing.
will you 90, dear?'' he asked tender
ly.
The little woman's heart was beating
very rapidly, very painfully, just then.
| Fighting forces were drawing her now
this way and now that. she had fought
bravely for long time, till she had grown
weary and almost strengthless with the
struggle There was not a hand to stay
or soul to help her.
For she had lost all confidence in her.
self. During all the evenings of all the
weeks OF all the months that the Professor
had been bending over his desk in the
library he had been supping the founda-
tons of her wifely egotism, convincing
her in her own mind that, as wife, she
possessed attractions none at all. Since he
had lost all interest in her, since all his old
thoughtfulness. all his little gallantries
had disappeared, since it took only SO
poor thing as dusty study to wean his
love away from her. she must be growing
old and ugly and unworthy. Her con-
slant brooding had not improved her looks
or her manner. There was an undeniable
change iu her, and her mirror was an &C
cusation that added sharpness to her sad
and silent thoughts.
There are in this world such things as
wives who are tempted to forget their
wiiely duty solely by hungering desire
to retain their womanly self respect.
The Professor had gone down to the
Post Office in his ordinary frame of mind.
When he had received letter from a
prominent New York publishing firm and
read its contents, he beamed with delight.
1t had been accepted. 1t would be pub
lished. 1t was regarded as "most
timely and valuable contribution to the
literature of special science" He could
scarcely contain himself. With long,
eager strides he started back to his house
to tell the great news to her.
1t would be a surprise. He would put
the letter under her eyes without word,
and watch her delight as she read. He
softly mounted the steps and crossed the
veranda and tiptoed into the house toward
the sitting room door. But he stopped.
He heard mans voice. There was some
1t was.
"Will you go, dear?" the voice said.
Don't ask me, jack" she answered
pleadingly.
But you have no amusement, no rec.
reation, no one to talk to. Nothing but
that beastly old treatise from morning till
night. You are certainly entitled to some
happiness" he urged.
"My lite is so lonelv-so lonely" she
murmured, sadly, half to herself She
looked into the Goals. through and beyond
them, into the sunless dark of long
future of neglect.
Mr.. Jack leaned forward. There was
a rustlng as she stretched away from
him.
'.Oh. Jack. Please don't. You mus
not kiss me. Please do not" she said
The Professor started forward. He was
wild. But he stopped, gripped the door
casing. and held himself with all hi.
| strength. He had not made sound.
He was peculiar man, the Professor
and he did q peculiar thing. He turned
very white. tiptoed noiselessly out of the
house. and sat down on the steps. 1t wa.
dark.
He leaned forward and bowed his heaC
in his hand. Ten minutes passed. ant
still he sat there, motionless figure, with
out a word.
Then he arose, walked softly on tn,
grass toward the gate, slammed the gate
and tramped noisily up the gravel ano
the steps. He hung up his hat in the hal
and walked into the sitting room.
Good evening, Jack. he said cordially
How are the people at homer"
80, So" said Mr.. Jack, easily
They're all gone out to some meeting
Yes; was going myself. but felt s
little shaky down at the Post Office, and
thought would come home"
"You do look pale, DEAR" she said.
They chatted for while, and soon Jack
rose to 60. The Professor went with him
as far as the door. He went further. He
went outside, closed the door, went down